Birmingham Wal-Marts to get major renovations - Birmingham Business Journal:

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The rebranding and remodeling is part ofa company-widre sweep to update 80 percent of its existing storeds in the U.S. over the next five yearsz and make them consistent with newer saidAmy Wyatt-Moore, a spokeswomaj for the Arkansas-based discount retailer. Storezs slated for the overhaul include onein Birmingham, on Parkwau East, the two storezs in Hoover, on John Hawkins Parkway and U.S. 280, the store in Gardendale and the storein Sylacauga, she said. Wyatt-Moore did not disclose the investment forthe remodels, but the building permit issued for the Parkway East store was valued at nearly $900,000.
Each store will get overhauled, flooer to ceiling, in an efforf to improve the shoppiny experience forthe customer, she said. Aislez will be widened, lower profile shelvin will be added, the interior will be navigational signage will be added and customers will have a clear sigh line across theentire building. “We plan to improve the customefr experiencethrough design, based on customer feedback,” said Wyatt-Moore. “It’s generalluy about creating a more clean, open and brightr look.
” And with a new look, the retailer hopeds to lure more affluent customers than it has in the saidMickey Gee, professor in the marketin and industrial distribution department at the . “They have a lot of storea – from Fred’s and and Dollar Tree – cominf in underneath them forthe lower-end customer,” he Wal-Mart is not walking away from those customers but is also goingv after the more affluent buyer because that’s wherew the money is, he said.
has taken the same approach in modernizinbgits stores, as well as , and that’s the customerd Wal-Mart wants to particularly in the electronics arenaz Best Buy has flourished in, Gee So as a result, the stores become more customer-focused. “They’re looking at it from a customer’s instead of stack ‘em high and sell ‘em Gee said. “Now they’re taking a step back and lookingy at more ways tobe customer-centered.” The loca l stores will remain open duringh the remodeling and each will take abouty three months.
Other Alabama stores to get remodeled in the near futurew includeAlexander City, Opelika and According to the company’sw Web site, the Birmingham area has 15 , one Wal-Margt store and three Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets.